Monday, May 05, 2014

I'm happy that she chose me

There is no photographic record of our wedding. I had a state-of-the-art Cannon F1 camera that I paid off on the installment plan, but I was always behind the lens and rarely in front. 
We had driven to Brewton, Alabama to the home of a friend who had for years been the preacher where Jilda's family attended church at the time.
Standing on the front porch of a double-wide trailer, the preacher tied the knot. I'd given the preacher's wife a crash course in wedding photography, but perhaps she would have understood better had I been speaking Mandarin Chinese, because the negatives were so blurry you couldn't make out an image on any of them.
After the wedding, we headed farther south to Panama City Beach, Florida for our honeymoon. We stayed at the Quinn Cottages. They were small cottages built on slabs with concrete blocks. There was no AC in the cottage, so we slept on the screened porch and listened to the sound of the surf.
There were no condos then, only mom and pop stores, restaurants, and sea shell shops.
A handicapper would have given odds that our marriage wouldn't last. There were times when the stars lined up against us, and it might have been easier to walk away.....but we didn't. And sitting here on Cinco de Mayo 2014, our 40th anniversary, I'm happy that we found each other, and found a way to stay together.





13 comments:

  1. Sweet, and it can last forever! We are 57 yrs as lovers, and 59 years in love.
    You guys sound like a good fit.. Happy Anniversary of times together.

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  2. Awe Rick this was so sweet... Happy, happy 40 years... ♡

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  3. How wonderful! Happy 40th! Wishing you both many, many more years together.

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  4. If you ever decide to renew your vows, let me know. I will be there with my camera in hand. I understand Mandarin Chinese.

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  5. You may not have any wedding photos, but you have 40 years of life photos. They may or may not be recorded on film. Congratulations!!!

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  6. Happy Anniversary to both of you! May you celebrate for many years to come!

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  7. Anonymous1:07 PM

    we were married 59 years in february--it just keeps getting better!!

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  8. Oh my word, look at you two!!! Awwwwwwwwwww!!!

    HAPPY HAPPY RUBY ANNIVERSARY!! I think it's Ruby? 40 years!! Yay!!

    I can't get over that young man is you!!! LOL!! Jilda is looking as divine as ever! Take care
    x

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  9. Jilda, Thank God you took Rick off the market. Some other woman might be stuck with him if you hadn't. ;-)

    Love,
    Janie

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  10. A wonderful photo, a wonderful time, and a well-matched couple!

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  11. Congrats you two! Love the pic! Let's see...you were married on the front porch of double wide trailer with no photos, no music, no groomsmen or bridesmaids, no reception following...and it's lasted 40yrs. Kim Kardashian spends a few million on a huge "horse and pony show" wedding and it lasted about 10min....hmmmmm.

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  12. Happy Anniversary to you and Jilda Rick!! I love how you always write about her on here - I can always read the love in every word and I can tell that you're more deeply in love every day. You and Jilda are an inspiration to all of us :)

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